Pull up a chair and join Thursday Life and The Rock’s favourite protein as we commence our festive countdown. We’re at home with Mark and Peta Gay McDonald, their absolutely gorgeous children and Peta Gay’s mum Cynthia Brown, one of our treasured local personalities.

Salut!

How do you cook the new Best Dressed Chicken Individually Frozen Mixed Parts?

A variety of ways. We bake the parts as well as do stove top dishes, and the children love the parts fried.

What’s your favourite holiday memory?

All the Christmas dinners throughout the season. As cliché as it sounds, it’s always so heart-warming being in the company of family and family friends.

How do you save time during the holidays?

I try to start early and I have saved lists that I carry forward each year.

What’s your go-to dish for the season?

Baked chicken parts with baby carrots and broccoli.

Share a holiday disaster you can laugh at now.

We roasted a whole chicken to the perfect golden brown, and while removing it from the oven the entire dish fell! We had a major mess to clean and had to come up with Plan B really quickly!

What’s your favourite family tradition?

Again, it’s the simple things that are most meaningful to me, selecting and decorating the Christmas tree and home. This can be quite interesting at times, as each of our three children has their own ideas for colour themes!

What do your children enjoy about the holidays?

Spending time at home as a family.

Holiday 911: your children say they’re having six friends over for video games. What do you do?

Start frying chicken and buttering rolls.

What single act or activity signals the start of the holidays in your home?

The tree – that kicks it all off!

Editor’s Note:

The new individually frozen mixed parts are the result of research conducted by The Best Dressed Chicken in mapping consumer trends and interests. Using advanced food technology, the frozen mixed parts are quick frozen to ensure that the signature tenderness and nutrition are locked in.